The Baptists, from Life in the USA: The Complete Guide for Immigrants and Americans

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Life in the USA
Religion in America
The Protestants

The Baptists
Baptists make up more than 10% of the American population, at least 27,000,000 people. Black and white Baptist church denominations exist separately. The largely white Southern Baptist Convention has about 12,000,000 members, while 9,000,000 black Americans (30% of all blacks in America) are members of their own National Baptist Conventions.

Baptists believe in the supremacy of the scriptures. They do not have a formal church hierarchy. In fact, they call themselves denominations instead of churches. Each local denomination is an independent autonomous unit. Baptists believe in baptism (by full immersion of the body into water) of believers, rather than of infants. There is, however, no body of official Baptist doctrine, as you might find in other religions.

Baptists hold sway in the Bible Belt region, which covers much of the south and Texas. Communities in this region, especially in rural areas, are among the most religious in the country. A New York City bank might give you a free toaster if you open an account; the Dallas bank would give you a free bible. Four American Presidents Harding, Truman, Carter, and Clinton have been Baptists.



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